Mass protests in prisons in Romania. More details about the protests that began at the prison in Iasi

Mass protests in prisons in Romania. More details about the protests that began at the prison in Iasi

On the evening of July 11, several inmates from the maximum security penitentiary in Iasi began to protest against the unfavourable conditions of the detention centres. The inmates are unhappy with the food, which according to them is not good and the type of accommodation that would be very bad.

However, the revolt would have started after the TV cable of the prison has been cut off. The protesters accuse that the law is made with the truncheon and that they are held in an environment where the public information reaching them only partially, they being deceived daily by a false schedule.

The detainees began the protest by shouting against prison representatives and hitting the bars with metal objects. The prisoners accused that "masked" persons in prison beat them without any reason and the employees of the unit would be involved in illegal acts, demanding that the Ministry of Justice comes to Iasi and take control.

ziare.ro

According to ziaruldeiasi.ro, several employees of the Iasi prison were called from their homes in order to appease the spirits. At the same time the director of the prison told journalists over the Prut that "negotiations were held with the detainees and there was no violence against them. Depending on the behaviour of the inmates, the prison authorities will act gradually to restore the order", said Marius Vulpe, the Director of Iasi Penitentiary.

Late at night, around 23.00 detainees got quiet after some negotiations, but this did not last much. The revolt continued the next day.

According to a press release, on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, around 09:00, some of the prisoners held in the yard restarted the protests, voicing verbal complaints about the detention conditions and the management of the unit. Later a detention room was set on fire and the staff immediately intervened to evacuate the prisoners that lived in the respective room, without requiring the evacuation of the entire section.

The inmates were supported by their relatives. While the relatives of detainees showed their discontent on the streets, loud cries were heard behind bars. Several people came with placards and demanded the pardon or house arrest of those incarcerated.

ziare.ro

On the other hand, the Ombudsman, Victor Ciorbea, appeals to prisoners held in Iasi Penitentiary to stop the protests and engage in a normal and legal dialogue with the representatives of the authorities.

It has to be noted that around 1,500 prisoners are incarcerated in Iasi Penitentiary, which is a number twice higher compared to the regulations of the European Court of Human Rights, according to the Romanian press.

In addition, lately, several inmates have resorted to extreme gestures to protest against prison conditions, some beating nails in the head or refusing the food, which they classify as miserable. However, lately, the head of the prison, Marius Vulpe, systematically refused the journalists to talk to any of those incarcerated in the penitentiary he leads, even if the prisoners agreed to interviews, claiming that the representatives of the unit could not ensure the guardianship and protection of the visitors.

Similar protests have started in over 10 prisons following the example of Iasi prison.
According to the recent information published by realitatea.net the situation in the penitentiaries, assessed on Thursday, July 14, at 10.00 is the next:
• Iasi Penitentiary, there are no manifestations, 124 prisoners refused the food.
• Poarta Albă Penitentiary, there are no manifestations, 2 prisoners refused the food.
• Botoşani Penitentiary, the prisoners who protested in the court abandoned the protest and entered the premises at 00.45; 5 inmates continue the protest on the rooftop of the walking yard; 268 prisoners refused the food; the prisoners of an accommodation unit are making noise, striking the bars in the rooms. It was requested the support of local structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
• Oradea Penitentiary, there are no manifestations, 3 prisoners refused the food.
• Miercurea Ciuc Penitentiary, there are no manifestations, 15 prisoners refused the food.
• Giurgiu Penitentiary, there are no manifestations, 1 prisoner refused the food.
• Vaslui Penitentiary, there are no manifestations, 56 prisoners refused the food.
• Bucureşti Jilava Penitentiary, there are no manifestations, 6 prisoners refused the food.
• Tulcea Penitentiary, there are no manifestations, 68 prisoners refused the food.
• Bistriţa Penitentiary, at 3.40 the last 2 inmates that protested on the rooftop have abandoned the protest and entered the premises, with no violent manifestations, 133 prisoners refused the food.
• Deva Penitentiary, there are no manifestations, 6 prisoners refused the food.
• Aiud Penitentiary, there are no manifestations, 27 prisoners refused the food.
• Bacău Penitentiary, there are no manifestations, 43 prisoners refused the food.
• Mărgineni Penitentiary, there are no manifestations, 45 prisoners refused the food.
• Arad Penitentiary, there are no manifestations, 1 prisoner refused the food.
• Tg Mureş Penitentiary, there are no manifestations, 10 prisoners under preventive arrest refused the food.

In response to the mass riots and solidarity showed by the inmates, the Justice Minister of Romania, Raluca Prună said that the situation in prisons in Romania is a serious one for over 20 years and urged the prisoners to be patient two more months until new measures will be adopted to solve the problems they face. The Minister of Justice has stressed that they will not adopt any measures under pressure and urged the inmates not to aggravate the situation by continuing the protests.